Technical Abstract:
Tillage influences the soil-water-plant ecosystem thereby affecting crop yield and quality. The effects of tillage on soil physical properties, sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) yield and quality were evaluated. A field study comprises of three tillage practices: no tillage (NT) shallow (ST) of 10-cm and deep (DT) of 30-cm was conducted on a Lihen sandy loam soil in spring of 2008 at the irrigated research farm near Williston, ND. Soil physical properties including bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR), gravimetric water content (GWC), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) were measured in four increments to 40 cm depth, approximately 0.5 m apart within the crop row of irrigated sugarbeet. Soil PR measurements were made in 2.5-cm increments to a depth of 40 cm. Roots were hand harvested from each plot and each sample consisted of the roots within an area consisting of two adjacent rows 1.5 m long. Soil BD and Ks were not significantly affected by the tillage across all depths. Soil GWC was significantly greater in DT than in NT and ST. Soil PR was significantly lower in DT than in NT and ST. Tillage had no significant effect on root yield, sucrose content, or sucrose yield. However, sugarbeet population was significantly lower in NT than in ST and DT for all dates throughout the growing season. It was concluded that tillage practices significantly affected soil PR and GWC, slightly affected BD and Ks, and had no effect on sugarbeet yield or quality.